Jig saw puzzle



.m i m H Q6 w 2 x M. E NOBLE JIG SAW PUZZLE May 28; 1935.

Filed Sept. 28, 1932 1 are l i j UNITED STATES RATE-NToFFrcEe relates to jig sawv puzzles and Patented May 28, 1935 2,002,750.. Inc; SAW PUZZLE Minnie E. Noble, Berkeley,- Calif." Application septe' lb r 28, 1932,. Serial No. 635,164.. i

3 Claims. (01. ars -157 1 more particularly-tattle.construction of the blank of material from which the; sections of v such puzzles aramadeo object of invention -is-to provide a puz-v character-described having the various sections qthereot. fiexibleand compressible so as.

tapermitcompressionespecially of certain secthe inner portions of the pattern ,1 to facilitate theiri-nsertion m a withdrawal from openings defined by adjacent sections and also tolpergn-it distortion; and, undue strains withdanger; of mutilating or permanently damthe sections.

.r Another object of the iinvention. is to provide a puzzle ofithe character? described inwhich the atereseid sections; are of suchlightness and. softness sate permit .theplacing of. thepuzzleat the of a-smallchild with. absolute safety not only to theachildl but alsoto; the surrounding ob.- jects which would, with the sections otherwise constzactedmez subject to scratching or breakage incurred by throwing or rubbing of the sections thereagainst.

A further object of the invention is to provide a puzzle of the character described which is formed from a blank of material which may be readily severed such as by means of a household knife or scissors whereby the blank may be cut into a desired plurality of complementary sided configurations for assembly, the blank having indicated thereon different cutting patterns any of which may be selected so that the complexity of said configurations may be left to the discretion of'the purchaser and chosen in accordance with the intellectual development of the user.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the perferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the puzzle with the sections uncut.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the puzzle with the sections out, the plane of the section being taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the sections of the puzzle.

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the puzzle one smaller scale.

Referring more particularly to the drawing; the puzzle of my invention comprises a blank Ii including a body portionv 1 formed. ofa softiand elastic material, such as rubbenanda flex-ibl'ein elastic cover 8 such as. paper or cloth or the like which is secured over the upper side ,of the portion 1 and isprovided on its exposed. side with a suitable picture 9.. The flexible yet inexpensive cover cooperates e'fiectively with theflelasticrub her body portion not only to produce a soft,.flei ibleand compressible structure but. to. hold the body portion. againstpermanent distortion, caused by breaking. down or weakening of. the rubber fibres. In certain'instances, if "desired-,7 the. cover. 8 may be omitted. and a. figure printed directly on the surface of bodyportionfl Howevendueto. its unique functioning in combination. with the body portion. asaforesaid. and fits. better. adaptability for receiving print than} the soft, pliable surfaceof therubber body portion, acover of. the character describedis desirablyinclhded;

The rubber body portion by reason of its softness and compressibility may in accordance with my invention assist materially in the assembly of the various sections of the puzzle. For instance it frequently occurs that several sections may be assembled about a space identified by a missing section and it is necessary to insert the missing section when found so that the same will engage over its periphery with the several already positioned adjacent sections. Where the joining lines between the sections are formed along rather complexe curves, it will be understood that entry of a section into its allotted space is diificult without upsetting or at least partially deranging the adjacent properly positioned sections. Especially is this so where, as with the puzzles heretofore available, the sections have been made of an unyielding material such as wood or cardboard in which case considerable jostling between the sections is often necessary to position an entering section. In accordance with my invention however, the sections by reason of their softness and resiliently yieldable nature permit of a slight compression of an entering section to afford entry thereof into an opening without contacting'and thereby deranging the adjacent sections, and when released will uniformly expand into proper engagement with and without disturbing, the adjacent sections.

As an important feature of the invention I provide a blank of the character described which may be cut by the'purchaser to a plurality of complementary sided sections l2 which when operatively assembled are arranged to interfit one with the other to form a continuous exposed surface including the cover 8 in its entirety and also in its original form whereby the picture provided thereon will be formed. In order to facilitate the cutting out of the sections by the purchaser, the rear surface M of the blank is preferably formed with lines or otherwise marked to indicate to the user a pattern for cutting the, sec.- tions. Referring to Figure 4, I have illustrated in the puzzle shown three of such patterns, one in light full lines It indicating a simple rectangular arrangement of the sections, one in heav ierfull lines l1 indicating a more complicated configuration of the sections, andlone in dotted lines I8indicating a still more complicated pattern for cutting the sections, the latter pattern being also indicated in dotted lines in Figure l.

The location ofsuch patterns on the side of the blank'opposite the cover 8 enables the use of a plurality of patterns without having the latter visible when the sections are operatively arranged. It has also been found that the provision of the patterns on the bottom side of the blank greatly facilitatesthe proper cutting of the sections, especially when such cutting is effected by means ,of the knife or other sharpened blade for the inr elastic cover provides a firm and immovable base against which the pliable elastic rubber body portion of the blank may be precisely cut. 7

While it will of course be clear that the puzzle may, if desired, be mechandised with the sections already cut apart, it is desirable, in the interests of providing a more delightful and intriguing game puzzle, toleave the cutting of the sections to the purchaser so that the complexity of the puzzle may be better'adapted to the user. In

I: I either event ,it will be clear that with'the sections 40 thus formed of'the ine'xpansible covering in combination with; the elastic'body as here disclosed will be soft, flexible and light and at the same time have sufiicient resiliency to insure a retention of the sections in coplanar relation when operatively assembled on a smooth surface.

I claim:

1. In a puzzle of the character described, a blank of soft compressible rubber or the like arranged for cutting into a plurality of odd-shaped sections for assembly, and ai figured cover of substantially inelastic material secured to one side of said blank and serving to hold the blank fibers adjacent the cover against transverse; distortion for cutting of the blank and as an inelastic base against which the blank may be cut.

' 2; A jig saw puzzle comprising, a plurality of interfitting sections forming when properly assembled 'a continuous surface, said sections being formed of a compressible material to permit of theentry of a section into engagement with adjacent and positioned sections by compressing the entering section sumciently to allow entry thereof without disturbing the positioned sections and then releasing the entering section for expansion into engagement with the adjacently positioned sections. 1

3. In a puzzle of the character described,"a plurality of interfitting sections each comprising, a soft compressible rubber body, and an inelastic cover secured to said body and provided with a figured outer surface forming 'a part of a composite picture whereby the sections 'whenproperly assembled will cause said individual covers notwithstanding said compressible bodies to form a continuous: inelastic surface displaying saidcomposite picture, said section bodies being formed of a compressible material to permit of the entry of a section into engagement with-adjacent and positioned sections by compressing the entering section sufficient to allow entry thereof without disturbing the positioned sections and then releasing the entering section forexpansion into engagement with the adjacent positioned sections. MINNIE E. NOBLE. 

